When I first started out at Butler last semester, Broad Ripple High School was not familiar to me at all. I had never even heard of the "local magnet school" since I am not from the area. All I knew was that I wanted to go to Butler University and complete my English degree. That all changed when I enrolled into Chris Speckman's EN 455 class called Writing in the Schools.

The class was designated as an English course with an ICR credit attached, meaning that I could get the Indianapolis community requirement that I need to complete my degree. It seemed like a win-win situation, but I knew very little about the class before the first day. After that first day though, I knew that I was going to enjoy the course.

Writing in the Schools is all about reaching out to Broad Ripple High School and working in an after-school writing program, called Butler Writers. While working in the school, we have the opportunity to come an hour early to participate in a tutoring program. A typical day of on-site work starts off with being at the school around 2:10pm to prepare sandwiches and drinks we will serve the students. Students start to filter in around 2:30pm, and then we have to take them down to the cafeteria to get them signed up for bus passes. After that, the fun begins.

I never really saw myself as wanting to teach. I thought that perhaps I would teach if I couldn't find a job as an editor or publisher, as I wanted to be when I first arrived at Butler. Once I started to spend time with these students, I realized that this is really what I wanted to do.

I remember feeling nervous that first day as students wandered in, glancing around to see if they recognized anyone. Some recognized the three graduate assistants and gave them hugs. Most of the students picked out a spot around the room and sat, watching the college students drown as they stood around, not knowing what to do.

I was among the drowning ones. When Chris told us to introduce ourselves to everyone, I didn't even know where to start. It seemed like there were so many students all around me and I had no idea how to properly introduce myself. I was floundering trying to figure out how to even talk to any of these students when they all seemed to have their own little groups and clung to one another.

But then I saw one student off in the middle of everyone else listening to music on her phone and looking absolutely unamused. I made my way over to her and introduced myself and she wouldn't look me in the eyes but said her name softly as she shook my hand. I remember asking her if she would sit at my table with me and she shrugged and picked up her bag to join me.

I remember that within minutes she was talking freely with me about her day and about her interests. One of my first and favorite moments I ever had with her was when she was laughing about an inside joke she had tried to explain to me and then she said, "I'm sorry; I just love to laugh." I think that right there is an easy way to sum up MyKailyn. She loves to laugh and I continued to see that every day with her after that. She is such a sharp goofball that finds humor in so many things, though more often than not, her writing is serious and realistic.

After I met MyKailyn, I met so many other great students who made my Tuesdays and Thursdays my favorite days of the week. Every time I go, I become closer with students and enjoy my time even more than I had the previous time. All of these students are so interesting and engaging and I love to talk and spend time with them.

As I spent more and more time in this school, I realized that this is what I want to spend the rest of my life doing. This is what makes me truly happy in a way that no other profession really could. I really enjoy the challenge of it too. There is a challenge in being able to connect with every single student in a classroom, but when you do, it is incredibly refreshing. I love being able to spend my time with students to teach them and help them along with their life. During the Broad Ripple Writers program, we write with the students but we are also there as a mentor, as a listening ear. No one has to write during this time after school, but many do because they feel comfortable and want to express their creativity. I want to be able to labor this kind of care upon my future students as I teach them because I think that empathy in the classroom is one of the most important tools a teacher should employ.

Before this class, I never thought that I would want to be a teacher but now, I can't imagine any other way I would want to spend the rest of my life.